OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Gulfport City Council Meeting: February 3, 2026 – Downtown Plan, Resolutions, and Public Comment

City Council — Tuesday, February 3, 2026
BodyGulfport, Mississippi
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, February 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:17:44

Transcript — Verbatim
7:48

I didn't even realize it was six o'clock already.

7:50

I was busy talking.

7:53

So welcome to our February third meeting.

7:57

Thank you for coming out on this cold night.

7:59

I appreciate it.

8:01

And we will just double check your phones, make sure your phones are off.

8:05

I just turned mine off.

8:06

I didn't even think I had mine in here.

8:08

Turn off your phones.

8:10

If you need any side conversations, that's absolutely okay, just take them out to the hallway.

8:15

And with that in mind, we will start with the invocation by Nancy Early, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, please stand.

8:30

Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations.

9:03

Here.

10:01

And whereas in Pinellas County, 211 services are provided by first contact, ensuring individuals and families have access to compassionate, accurate, and timely information and referrals when they need help most.

10:14

And whereas 211 provides expert caring assistance by list listening to callers, identifying underlying needs, and connecting people with the appropriate community resources that help stabilize households and improve quality of life.

10:28

And whereas in 2025, 211 responded to more than 62,000 calls, text, emails, and online requests from Pinellas County residents seeking assistance with critical needs.

10:39

And whereas 211 addresses the root cause causes of challenges facing individuals and families by identifying presenting issues and connecting them to a wide range of available resources, not solely the service that prompted the initial contact.

10:53

And whereas 211 maintains a finger on the pulse of community needs by collecting and analyzing health and human services data, which is used by local governments, emergency managers, and community planeters planners to inform decision making and improve services.

11:09

And whereas 211 strengthens the efficiency and effectiveness of the local service social services ecosystem by ensuring individuals are connected to the right services at the right time, reducing duplication and barriers to care.

11:22

Now, therefore, Karen Love, Mayor of the City of Gulfport, Florida, does hereby proclaim the month of February and especially February 11th, 211, as National 211 Day.

11:35

She urges every resident to recognize the vital role of 211, promote awareness of this essential resource, and support a more connected and compassionate community for all.

11:50

Could you go up?

11:51

Yeah, thank you.

11:53

Yeah, yeah.

12:00

So we asked Councilmember Jackson to present this to you because she was the one that specifically requested this proclamation.

12:10

Thank you, everyone.

12:11

Oh, thank you.

12:12

Thank you.

12:19

Just now.

12:21

All right.

12:24

Thank you, Miss Jackson.

12:28

All right.

12:29

And then the next thing that we have tonight is a presentation, and it's going to be given by me.

12:35

And it's going to deal with uh the downtown area, traffic flow, parking, and speed limits.

12:59

So you got the pointer ready?

13:00

I got the pointer ready.

13:01

All right, routine then.

13:03

Okay.

13:04

So what I say would like to say to start is good evening, council, staff.

13:11

Thank you for being here tonight and for this opportunity to present to you my plan on the things that I've been hearing for the last 10 to 12 years.

13:21

Okay.

13:23

So uh one of the things that we do acknowledge from time to time is that our job is not to only solve the problems of today, but we should be preparing our city for the future.

13:34

And that's one of the things that I'd like to do.

13:36

But today it's only going to be focused and limited to the downtown area.

13:42

Um, the issues that I want to address are the safety issues, causing our city to be more pedestrian and bike-friendly, and also increasing parking without adding in a garage.

13:54

I find that uh about I'm gonna say half our residents would like a parking garage, and half our residents didn't, and so what I'm gonna try and present tonight is a way to do it without increasing to without having to add a garage.

14:09

Um over the last 12 to 13 years that I've been at meetings, I've heard this topic been brought up several times.

14:18

Um we just never got there.

14:19

We talked about traffic studies and they never happened.

14:22

I'm not angry about that.

14:24

Other things always seem to get in the way.

14:26

The last time we talked about having a traffic study done, um, we were hit by three hurricanes and a pop-up flood.

14:34

And so we've had our priorities looking in other places.

14:38

So the considerations that I took in this presentation today, I'm gonna admit right now they're all unpaid and unscientific.

14:47

But there's a lot of legwork that went into them.

14:51

So the first thing I did was I got a couple of volunteers.

14:54

I know Karen's in the audience tonight, she helped me.

14:57

We did a bike rack study.

15:00

Then I got Vice Mayor Thanos, Councilmember Shaw, Wolfgang Dininger, and myself, and we went door to door at our businesses talking to the management or the owners and getting an idea of how many employees are actually parking on our streets every single day because this is where their jobs are.

15:19

Then let's see, the next thing I did is trying to read my own notes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection██████████████████████22%
Parking and Traffic████████████████████20%
Procedural████████████12%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Community Engagement████████8%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Racial Equity█████5%
Senior Services████4%
Immigration Policy███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Gulfport City Council Meeting – February 3, 2026

The Gulfport City Council met on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. to discuss a downtown traffic, parking, and speed limit proposal; consider several ordinances and resolutions; and hear public comments on a range of topics including ICE cooperation, city inclusivity, and charter review referendums. The meeting included a proclamation, a presentation from the Mayor, and council actions on lighting regulations, advisory committees, and an inclusivity resolution.

Proclamation

  • National 211 Day: Mayor Karen Love proclaimed February 11, 2026, as National 211 Day in Gulfport, recognizing the role of 211 services in providing referrals and support. Councilmember Jackson presented the proclamation to representatives from First Contact.

Presentation: Downtown Traffic Flow, Parking, and Speed Limits

  • Mayor Love presented an unscientific but extensive plan developed over 10–12 years of community input. Key proposals:
    • Convert several downtown streets to one‑way: 54th St. southbound, 56th St. northbound; 29th and 31st Avenues eastbound; 30th and Dalette Avenues westbound; Shore Blvd. from 54th to Beach Blvd. one‑way.
    • Reconfigure parking by using angled parking, adding handicap and golf cart spaces, and opening 253 resident‑only restricted spots on side streets west of Beach Blvd. to all users.
    • Reduce speed limits on Beach, Shore, 54th, and 56th to 20 mph.
    • Add four new 15‑minute parking spots at 29th Ave., Dillette Ave., Essex Ave., and near Neptune’s/Tommy’s.
  • Councilmember Jackson suggested implementing small pieces quickly (e.g., speed study, bike racks, golf cart parking) to gain early wins.
  • Council reached consensus to hold a public workshop on March 26, 2026, to present the full plan and gather community input.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jennifer Donch (Premier Dr. S.) urged the council to schedule regular workshops on non‑council meeting weeks to allow deeper discussion and more public comment.
  • Charlotte Downey submitted an open letter asking the council to affirm that police officers are not required to participate in ICE actions that violate civil or constitutional rights; she noted a 287(g) agreement exists.
  • Mr. Lee (no address given) expressed frustration over alleged city inaction on discrimination complaints, stating he had been “weaponized against” and accused the council of being “phony white people”; he referenced a deposition and said his business had not been allowed to open.
  • Lewis Stevens (Kingdom Changer Church) introduced himself as the pastor of a new church behind Boca Ciega High School and offered partnership with the city for a daycare and youth center.
  • Laura Oldaney (9th Ave. S.) asked the council to ensure that future agreements like the ICE 287(g) document are not signed without resident awareness and council discussion.
  • Eileen (Tangerine Ave. S.) reported on the Senior Center Foundation’s successful casino night and upcoming events (comedy show, Leslie Smith show) to fund renovations.
  • Jennifer Webb (17th Ave. S.) announced upcoming Merchant Chamber events: Mademoiselle Paris ribbon cutting (Feb. 5), Fine Arts Festival (Feb. 14–15), monthly art exhibit (Feb. 21), Pink Flamingo tour of homes (Feb. 28).
  • Amy Costa (28th Ave. S.) noted that the “For the Love of Gulfport” event was rescheduled to March 1 due to weather, and promoted a concert at Wonder Works on Feb. 12.
  • Kate (no address) expressed gratitude for the upcoming ICE workshop and invited all to a One City Chorus concert on Feb. 22.
  • Wolfgang Dininger (Beachway Park 6th Pl. S.) announced Lincoln Cemetery cleanup (Feb. 7, 8–10 a.m.) and Gulfport Grassroots’ Beyond the Beach cleanup (Feb. 14, 9–11 a.m.).
  • Beth Birkabine (56th St.) and Dilly Jacoby (49th St. S.) both expressed concerns about two upcoming charter review referendums regarding leases and fair market value, fearing they could harm long‑standing non‑profit tenants. They requested more public information before the Feb. 5 workshop.
  • E‑comments (two public): Deborah Schufs accused the mayor of withholding public records; Margaret Tober asked about delinquent marina accounts and incorrect utility invoicing.

Council Comments & Reports

  • Councilmember Burley: Reported on the Fusion 49th meeting – Safe Streets program beginning with short‑term projects (LED conversion, trail enhancements, intersection improvements) and no immediate speed reductions.
  • Councilmember Early: Updated on the Gulfport Environmental Team’s tree‑measuring initiative, aiming to inventory public trees by May; residents invited to volunteer. Also requested permit data from the city manager (deferred to next meeting).
  • Councilmember Shaw: Visited the senior center (104th birthday celebration). Reported senior interest in the 5.67‑acre property, requests for GEMS/looper transportation to council meetings, a bocce ball court sign, status of the Lions Club building appraisal, and updates on mooring balls. City Manager responded: bocce court signs will be ordered; senior center expansion presentation on March 3; appraisal on Feb. 17 agenda.
  • Mayor Love: Recapped trip to Tallahassee: multiple tax bills under consideration, SB 840 (easing storm‑related permitting restrictions) gaining support. Reported that Diston Elementary School is likely to close at year‑end, with more closures possible in 2027. Announced a February 26 workshop (4 p.m.) dedicated to ICE issues. Clarified that the Feb. 5 charter review workshop is informational, not advocacy. Requested and received consensus to allow Priscilla Kidder to present a living‑shoreline grant proposal at the Feb. 17 meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • Meeting Minutes from January 20, 2026, approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 2026‑02 (First Reading) – Residential Lighting Nuisance: Amends Chapter 12 to classify certain outdoor lighting as a nuisance. Debate focused on vagueness of terms (“safety purposes,” “reasonable lighting”). Councilmember Early and Jackson expressed concerns that the ordinance does not address intensity or height; City Manager explained this is a first step, with a more detailed ordinance (settings lumens, wattage, height) to follow. After public comment (including concerns about light pollution and HOA feel), the ordinance passed 3–2 (Early, Jackson dissenting).
  • Resolution 2026‑06 – Sunsetting Senior Citizens Advisory Committee: Unanimously approved (5‑0). The committee will be reconstituted under rules that allow private discussions, similar to the former Teen Council.
  • Resolution 2026‑07 – Affirming Commitment as an All‑Inclusive City: Councilmember Shaw and the city attorney crafted the resolution to reaffirm the Human Rights Ordinance and acknowledge past history. Public comment objected to the term “all‑inclusive” (should be “inclusive”) and called for tangible displays (signs, doors). Council amended the title and text by striking “all‑” (motion approved). The resolution passed 4–1, with Vice Mayor Thanos dissenting.

Key Outcomes

  • Downtown Plan: Consensus to hold a public workshop on March 26, 2026 to gather input on the Mayor’s one‑way street, parking, and speed reduction proposals.
  • Lighting Ordinance: Passed first reading (3‑2). City attorney to prepare a more detailed second ordinance addressing brightness and height.
  • Senior Advisory Committee: Sunset and reconstitution approved unanimously.
  • Inclusivity Resolution: Adopted with amendment (4–1); staff instructed to correct language to “inclusive city.”
  • Future Agenda Items: Councilmember Shaw’s requests to discuss senior transportation (GEMS/looper) and Tangerine Avenue one‑way survey were added to a future agenda by consensus.
  • Upcoming Workshops: February 5 (charter review), February 26 (ICE/287(g)), March 26 (downtown plan).

Meeting Transcript

I didn't even realize it was six o'clock already. I was busy talking. So welcome to our February third meeting. Thank you for coming out on this cold night. I appreciate it. And we will just double check your phones, make sure your phones are off. I just turned mine off. I didn't even think I had mine in here. Turn off your phones. If you need any side conversations, that's absolutely okay, just take them out to the hallway. And with that in mind, we will start with the invocation by Nancy Early, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, please stand. Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations. Here. And whereas in Pinellas County, 211 services are provided by first contact, ensuring individuals and families have access to compassionate, accurate, and timely information and referrals when they need help most. And whereas 211 provides expert caring assistance by list listening to callers, identifying underlying needs, and connecting people with the appropriate community resources that help stabilize households and improve quality of life. And whereas in 2025, 211 responded to more than 62,000 calls, text, emails, and online requests from Pinellas County residents seeking assistance with critical needs. And whereas 211 addresses the root cause causes of challenges facing individuals and families by identifying presenting issues and connecting them to a wide range of available resources, not solely the service that prompted the initial contact. And whereas 211 maintains a finger on the pulse of community needs by collecting and analyzing health and human services data, which is used by local governments, emergency managers, and community planeters planners to inform decision making and improve services. And whereas 211 strengthens the efficiency and effectiveness of the local service social services ecosystem by ensuring individuals are connected to the right services at the right time, reducing duplication and barriers to care. Now, therefore, Karen Love, Mayor of the City of Gulfport, Florida, does hereby proclaim the month of February and especially February 11th, 211, as National 211 Day. She urges every resident to recognize the vital role of 211, promote awareness of this essential resource, and support a more connected and compassionate community for all. Could you go up? Yeah, thank you. Yeah, yeah. So we asked Councilmember Jackson to present this to you because she was the one that specifically requested this proclamation. Thank you, everyone. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Just now. All right. Thank you, Miss Jackson. All right. And then the next thing that we have tonight is a presentation, and it's going to be given by me. And it's going to deal with uh the downtown area, traffic flow, parking, and speed limits. So you got the pointer ready? I got the pointer ready. All right, routine then. Okay. So what I say would like to say to start is good evening, council, staff. Thank you for being here tonight and for this opportunity to present to you my plan on the things that I've been hearing for the last 10 to 12 years. Okay. So uh one of the things that we do acknowledge from time to time is that our job is not to only solve the problems of today, but we should be preparing our city for the future. And that's one of the things that I'd like to do. But today it's only going to be focused and limited to the downtown area. Um, the issues that I want to address are the safety issues, causing our city to be more pedestrian and bike-friendly, and also increasing parking without adding in a garage. I find that uh about I'm gonna say half our residents would like a parking garage, and half our residents didn't, and so what I'm gonna try and present tonight is a way to do it without increasing to without having to add a garage. Um over the last 12 to 13 years that I've been at meetings, I've heard this topic been brought up several times. Um we just never got there. We talked about traffic studies and they never happened. I'm not angry about that.

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